Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler Honored at U.S. Dream Academy Gala

U.S. Dream Academy honors Miss America 2012 for “Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents”

Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler was honored last night at the U.S. Dream Academy’s Power of a Dream Gala, presented by Amway, for her work with her personal platform, Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents. Each year the Power of a Dream Gala attracts the support of Hollywood celebrities, political figures, corporate executives, community leaders, and VIPs who are committed to the Dream Academy’s vision to succeed in making a difference in the lives of at-risk youth and children of incarcerated parents.

Other honorees for this year’s event, who are also making a difference in young people’s lives with their philanthropic efforts, included:

Lars Houmann – President & CEO Florida Hospital

Mark Ingram, Jr. – Heisman Trophy Winner New Orleans Saints of the National Football League

A special highlight of the evening included performances by the U.S. Dream Academy DREAMKids, Grammy Award Winning Gospel Group Mary Mary, and Grammy Award nominee and founder of U.S. Dream Academy,Wintley Phipps. Chef Jeff Henderson, Executive Chef, Best Selling Author, Multi-Grammy Award and Star of the Food Network’s “The Chef Jeff Project,” served as the keynote speaker. Emmy Award and Edward R. Murrow Award winning anchor (ABC7/WJLA TV) Cynne’ Simpson and popular actor and Star of Tyler Perry’s “Meet the Browns” Lamman Rucker emceed the gala.

To date, the gala has raised $11 million to address this rapidly growing education crisis. The U.S. Dream Academy is no ordinary afterschool program. The Dream Academy combines academic fundamentals and achievement with active learning opportunities that engage children and link them to the power of their dreams.

About the Miss America Pageant
The Miss America Organization is one of the nation’s leading achievement programs and the world’s largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local organizations made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance.

Miss America 2012 Laura Kaeppeler was honored last night at the U.S. Dream Academy's Power of a Dream Gala, presented by Amway, for her work with her personal platform, Mentoring Children of Incarcerated Parents.